Curry-style type Isomorphisms and Game Semantics

Curry-style system F, ie. system F with no explicit types in terms, can be seen as a core presentation of polymorphism from the point of view of programming languages. This paper gives a characterisation of type isomorphisms for this language, by using a game model whose intuitions come both from the syntax and from the game semantics universe. The model is composed of: an untyped part to interpret terms, a notion of game to interpret types, and a typed part to express the fact that an untyped strategy plays on a game. By analysing isomorphisms in the model, we prove that the equational system corresponding to type isomorphisms for Curry-style system F is the extension of the equational system for Church-style isomorphisms with a new, non-trivial equation: forall X.A = A[forall Y.Y/X] if X appears only positively in A.Comment: Accept\'e \`a Mathematical Structures for Computer Science, Special Issue on Type Isomorphism

Second-Order Type Isomorphisms Through Game Semantics

The characterization of second-order type isomorphisms is a purely syntactical problem that we propose to study under the enlightenment of game semantics. We study this question in the case of second-order λ$\mu$-calculus, which can be seen as an extension of system F to classical logic, and for which we define a categorical framework: control hyperdoctrines. Our game model of λ$\mu$-calculus is based on polymorphic arenas (closely related to Hughes' hyperforests) which evolve during the play (following the ideas of Murawski-Ong). We show that type isomorphisms coincide with the "equality" on arenas associated with types. Finally we deduce the equational characterization of type isomorphisms from this equality. We also recover from the same model Roberto Di Cosmo's characterization of type isomorphisms for system F. This approach leads to a geometrical comprehension on the question of second order type isomorphisms, which can be easily extended to some other polymorphic calculi including additional programming features.Comment: accepted by Annals of Pure and Applied Logic, Special Issue on Game Semantic